'Public Option' by any other name is Still 'Government-Run Health Care' :: Political News and commentaries

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August 18, 2009

'Public Option' by any other name is Still 'Government-Run Health Care'

Topics: Political News and commentaries

As Barbara Espinoza explains in her blog, "Reports Of Public Option's Demise Greatly Exaggerated" and we should not be fooled by the White House's "fake to center-right" - because "PUBLIC OPTION" BY ANY OTHER NAME IS STILL GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE. It is, in essence, a trojan horse for a single-payer system of health-care:

Sen. Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) Says Co-Ops Another Form Of Government-Run Health Care. "'We're going to have some type of public option, call it "co-op," call it what you want,' Reid said, adding that Democrats are working on 'some version of a co-op that may satisfy everyone.'" (Trish Turner, "Reid Says Co-Ops Might Be Public Option," Fox News's "The Speaker's Lobby" Blog, 7/9/09)

Open To Co-Ops, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Doesn't Care What Government-Run Health Care Is Called. "'We don't care what it's called. We need something that's going to keep the insurance companies honest,' Schumer said, adding that any co-op plan must also 'be available right at the beginning, have competition ... and have the strength to bargain.'" (Trish Turner, "Reid Says Co-Ops Might Be Public Option," Fox News's "The Speaker's Lobby" Blog, 7/9/09)

SO WHAT IS A "CO-OP"?

Co-Ops Would Be Funded By Federal Government. "Senator Kent Conrad, a Democrat, proposed creating nonprofit, member-operated health cooperatives to compete with insurers ... The government would offer start-up money -- Conrad said $6 billion would be needed -- in loans and grants to help doctors, hospitals, businesses and other groups form nonprofit cooperative networks to obtain and provide healthcare." ("Q&A - Co-Ops In Focus In U.S. Health Care Debate," Reuters, 7/30/09)

Co-Ops Would Be Regulated By Federal Government. "Advisory board makes recommendations to HHS Secretary who makes final decisions about approvals of business plans ... Business plans must meet governance standards, and eligible applicants must meet the standard for non-profit, participating mutual insurance." ("Senate Finance Committee Draft Proposal," 6/19/09)

Co-Ops Would Force Individuals Who Want To Join To Go Through State Governments. "Co-op membership would be offered through state insurance exchanges where small businesses and individuals without employer-sponsored plans would shop for health coverage." ("Q&A - Co-Ops In Focus In U.S. Health Care Debate," Reuters, 7/30/09)
Federal Government Would Use Co-Ops To Monopolize Health Insurance. "[T]hese co-ops sound a lot like a health-care Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which Congress created because there was supposedly no secondary mortgage market. The duo proceeded to use their government subsidy to dominate the market and drive out private competitors." (Editorial, "Fannie Med,"The Wall Street Journal, 7/30/09)

So why is the White House "Faking Center-Right"? Read more here and find out.

As the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons has noted, single-payer" is not insurance. It is a collectivized government payment system on the socialist principle of "from each according to his means, and to each according to his need." It is nothing less than socialism. In contrast, true insurance reimburses subscribers for a catastrophic financial loss, with premiums determined by risk. Not all medical needs can be "covered" by insurance; attempts to do so simply destroy the insurance mechanism. Charity and social welfare are ways to meet those needs. Neither should be called "insurance."

So yes, indeed, we should all just say no to co-ops, which are still government run healthcare and a trojan horse for a single-payer, nationalized healthcare payment system with government making the decisions as to what level of care we get and if we get it at all.

Posted by Richard at August 18, 2009 6:38 AM

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